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14 Pursue diōkō · ho love agapē, and de earnestly desire zēloō the ho spiritual pneumatikos gifts , but de especially mallon that hina you may prophesy prophēteuō. For gar the ho one speaking laleō in a tongue glōssa speaks laleō not ou to men anthrōpos but alla to God theos; indeed gar, no one oudeis understands akouō him, yet de he is speaking laleō mysteries mystērion by the Spirit pneuma. On the other hand de, the ho one who prophesies prophēteuō speaks laleō to people anthrōpos for their edification oikodomē, · kai encouragement paraklēsis, and kai consolation paramythia. The ho one who speaks laleō in a tongue glōssa edifies oikodomeō himself heautou, but de the ho one who prophesies prophēteuō edifies oikodomeō the church ekklēsia. Now de I would like thelō all pas of you hymeis to speak laleō in tongues glōssa, but de even more mallon to hina prophesy prophēteuō. The ho one who prophesies prophēteuō is greater megas · de than ē the ho one who speaks laleō in tongues glōssa, unless ektos ei he interprets diermēneuō so that hina the ho church ekklēsia may receive lambanō edification oikodomē.

But de as it is nyn, brothers adelphos, if ean I come erchomai to pros you hymeis speaking laleō in tongues glōssa, how tis will I benefit ōpheleō you hymeis unless ean mē I impart laleō to you hymeis some ē revelation apokalypsis or ē knowledge gnōsis or ē prophecy prophēteia or ē teaching didachē? It is the same homōs with · ho lifeless apsychos things that produce didōmi sound phōnē, whether eite flute aulos or eite harp kithara; if ean they do didōmi not make didōmi a difference diastolē between ho notes phthongos, how pōs will what ho is being played on the flute auleō or ē the ho harp kitharizō be understood ginōskō? Again kai, if ean the bugle salpinx gives didōmi an uncertain adēlos call phōnē, who tis will get ready paraskeuazō for eis battle polemos? So houtōs · kai it is with you hymeis; if ean you do didōmi not speak didōmi a clear eusēmos message logos with dia your ho tongue glōssa, how pōs will anyone know ginōskō what ho is being said laleō? You will be eimi speaking laleō into eis the air aēr. 10 There are eimi who-knows-how-many tosoutos ei kinds genos of languages phōnē in en the world kosmos, and kai none oudeis is without meaning aphōnos. 11 But oun if ean I do not grasp oida the ho meaning dynamis of the ho language phōnē, I will be eimi a foreigner barbaros to the ho speaker laleō and kai the ho speaker laleō a foreigner barbaros to en me egō. 12 So houtōs · kai it is with you hymeis. Since epei you are eimi eager zēlōtēs for manifestations of the Spirit pneuma, seek zēteō to hina excel perisseuō for pros the ho edification oikodomē of the ho church ekklēsia.

13 For this reason dio, the ho one who speaks laleō in a tongue glōssa should pray proseuchomai that hina he will be able to interpret diermēneuō. 14 For gar if ean I pray proseuchomai in a tongue glōssa, · ho my egō spirit pneuma prays proseuchomai · ho but de my egō mind nous is eimi unproductive akarpos. 15 What tis then oun shall I do eimi? I will pray proseuchomai with my ho spirit pneuma, but de I will also kai pray proseuchomai with my ho understanding nous. I will sing praises psallō with my ho spirit pneuma, but de I will also kai sing praises psallō with my ho understanding nous. 16 Otherwise epei, if ean you are praising eulogeō God by en the Spirit pneuma, how pōs can anyone ho in anaplēroō the ho position topos of ho an outsider idiōtēs say legō, · ho Amen amēn,” to epi · ho your sos thanksgiving eucharistia since epeidē he does oida not ou know oida what tis you are saying legō? 17 For gar you sy are giving thanks eucharisteō well kalōs enough , but alla the ho other heteros person is not ou being edified oikodomeō. 18 I thank eucharisteō · ho God theos I speak laleō in tongues glōssa more mallon than all pas of you hymeis; 19 however alla, in en church ekklēsia I would thelō rather speak laleō five pente words logos with ho my egō understanding nous, so as to hina instruct katēcheō others allos also kai, than ē ten thousand myrios words logos in en a tongue glōssa.

20 Brothers adelphos, do ginomai not be ginomai children paidion in your ho thinking phrēn. Rather alla, in ho evil kakia be infants nēpiazō but de in your ho thinking phrēn be ginomai adults teleios. 21 In en the ho Law nomos it is written graphō, “ By en people with strange tongues heteroglōssos and kai by en the lips cheilos of foreigners heteros will I speak laleō to ho this houtos people laos, yet kai not even oude in this way houtōs will they listen eisakouō to me egō, says legō the Lord kyrios.” 22 So then hōste · ho tongues glōssa are eimi for eis a sign sēmeion, not ou for ho believers pisteuō but alla for ho unbelievers apistos, · ho while de prophecy prophēteia is not ou for ho unbelievers apistos but alla for ho believers pisteuō. 23 So oun if ean the ho whole holos church ekklēsia assembles synerchomai in epi the ho same autos place and kai everyone pas is speaking laleō in tongues glōssa, and de outsiders idiōtēs or ē unbelievers apistos come in eiserchomai, will they not ou say legō that hoti you are out of your minds mainomai? 24 But de if ean all pas are prophesying prophēteuō, and de an tis unbeliever apistos or ē outsider idiōtēs comes eiserchomai in , he is convicted elenchō by hypo all pas, he is called to account anakrinō by hypo all pas, 25 and the ho secrets kryptos of ho his autos heart kardia are ginomai laid bare phaneros. · kai Thus houtōs he will fall piptō on epi his face prosōpon and worship proskyneō · ho God theos, declaring apangellō, “ God theos is eimi really ontōs · ho among en you hymeis.” 26 What tis then oun is eimi the outcome , brothers adelphos? When hotan you come together synerchomai, each hekastos one has echō a hymn psalmos, a word of instruction didachē, a revelation apokalypsis, a tongue glōssa, an interpretation hermēneia. Let ginomai all pas things be done ginomai for pros edification oikodomē. 27 If eite any tis speak laleō in a tongue glōssa, it should be only kata two dyo, or ē at the ho most polys three treis, and kai each ana in turn meros; and kai someone heis must interpret diermēneuō. 28 But de if ean there is eimi no one who can interpret diermēneutēs, the speaker should remain silent sigaō in en church ekklēsia and de speak laleō to himself heautou and kai to ho God theos. 29 · de Two dyo or ē three treis should speak laleō as prophets prophētēs and kai · ho others allos should weigh carefully diakrinō what is said. 30 But de if ean a revelation comes apokalyptō to another allos person who is sitting down kathēmai, the ho first prōtos speaker should stop sigaō. 31 For gar in this way all pas will be able dynamai to prophesy prophēteuō one by one kata, with the result that hina all pas may learn manthanō and kai all pas be encouraged parakaleō, 32 Indeed kai, the spirits pneuma of prophets prophētēs are subject hypotassō to prophets prophētēs, 33 for gar God theos is eimi not ou a God of confusion akatastasia · ho but alla of peace eirēnē. As hōs in en all pas the ho churches ekklēsia of the ho saints hagios, 34 the ho women gynē are to be silent sigaō in en the ho churches ekklēsia, for gar they autos are not ou permitted epitrepō to speak laleō. Rather alla, they are to be submissive hypotassō, as kathōs in fact kai the ho law nomos says legō. 35 And de if ei they want thelō to find out about manthanō something tis, they should ask eperōtaō their own idios husbands anēr at en home oikos; · ho for gar it is eimi improper aischros for a woman gynē to speak laleō in en church ekklēsia. 36 Or ē did exerchomai the ho word logos of ho God theos originate exerchomai with apo you hymeis? Or ē did it come katantaō to eis you hymeis alone monos?

37 If ei anyone tis considers dokeō himself to be eimi a prophet prophētēs or ē spiritual pneumatikos, let him acknowledge epiginōskō that hoti what hos I am writing graphō to you hymeis is eimi a command entolē of the Lord kyrios. 38 If ei · de anyone tis fails to acknowledge agnoeō this, he will not be acknowledged agnoeō. 39 So hōste, my egō brothers adelphos, be eager zēloō to prophesy prophēteuō, and kai do kōlyō not forbid kōlyō speaking laleō in tongues glōssa. 40 But de everything pas should be done ginomai in a proper euschēmonōs and kai orderly way kata.

Intelligibility in Worship

14 Follow the way of love(A) and eagerly desire(B) gifts of the Spirit,(C) especially prophecy.(D) For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a](E) does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them;(F) they utter mysteries(G) by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,(H) encouraging(I) and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue(J) edifies(K) themselves, but the one who prophesies(L) edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,[b] but I would rather have you prophesy.(M) The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,[c] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.(N)

Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation(O) or knowledge(P) or prophecy or word of instruction?(Q) Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?(R) So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.(S) 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit,(T) try to excel in those that build up(U) the church.

13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.(V) 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays,(W) but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,(X) but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing(Y) with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,[d] say “Amen”(Z) to your thanksgiving,(AA) since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.(AB)

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.(AC)

20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.(AD) In regard to evil be infants,(AE) but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law(AF) it is written:

“With other tongues
    and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
    but even then they will not listen to me,(AG)
says the Lord.”[e]

22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy,(AH) however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?(AI) 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets(AJ) of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”(AK)

Good Order in Worship

26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters?(AL) When you come together, each of you(AM) has a hymn,(AN) or a word of instruction,(AO) a revelation, a tongue(AP) or an interpretation.(AQ) Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.(AR) 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

29 Two or three prophets(AS) should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.(AT) 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.(AU) 33 For God is not a God of disorder(AV) but of peace(AW)—as in all the congregations(AX) of the Lord’s people.(AY)

34 Women[f] should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak,(AZ) but must be in submission,(BA) as the law(BB) says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.[g]

36 Or did the word of God(BC) originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks they are a prophet(BD) or otherwise gifted by the Spirit,(BE) let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.(BF) 38 But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.[h]

39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager(BG) to prophesy,(BH) and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly(BI) way.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:2 Or in another language; also in verses 4, 13, 14, 19, 26 and 27
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:5 Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:5 Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
  4. 1 Corinthians 14:16 The Greek word for inquirer is a technical term for someone not fully initiated into a religion; also in verses 23 and 24.
  5. 1 Corinthians 14:21 Isaiah 28:11,12
  6. 1 Corinthians 14:34 Or peace. As in all the congregations of the Lord’s people, 34 women
  7. 1 Corinthians 14:35 In a few manuscripts these verses come after verse 40.
  8. 1 Corinthians 14:38 Some manuscripts But anyone who is ignorant of this will be ignorant